The collection contains correspondence, typescripts, original manuscripts, and notes, as well as clippings and other material related to Gould's writings; also includes recordings and biographical materials.

Preferred Citation

Biographical/Historical Note

John Thomas Gould (Bowdoin 1931), a Boston native, was born in 1908. He wrote stories, essays, and humorous novels, most of which describe the daily routines of life in New England. The author of the column "Dispatch from the Farm," in the Christian Science Monitor (1942- ), he also wrote Pre-Natal Care for Fathers (1941), The House that Jacob Built (1947), The Fastest Hound Dog in the State of Maine (1953) and Maine Lingo (1975). He was a journalist for the Boston Sunday Post (1924-1954), publisher and co-owner of Lisbon Enterprise (1945-1951), president of the New England Veteran Journalists Association (1961-1962) and commentator for Public Radio.

Gould married Dorothy Florence Wells in 1932. They had a son, John Thomas Jr. (Bowdoin 1960), and a daughter, Kathryn MacLeod Gould Christy. John Gould died on September 1, 2003.

Scope and Content

The collection contains correspondence, typescripts, original manuscripts, and notes, as well as clippings and other material related to Gould's writings. Also included are audio recordings, and biographical and genealogical material.

Publication Information

Related Materials

Separated Materials note

Gould presented the College nearly 150 volumes, including all editions of his works; those edited or with a preface or introduction by him; anthologies containing pieces by him; and books about him. These works are cataloged separately as part of the rare book holdings of the George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives.

Collection Inventory

M075.1 Correspondence, 1956, 1967-1999, n.d.

Serie Description:

This series is divided into two subseries: Chronological Correspondence and Correspondence Laid in Books. The correspondence arranged chronologically contains letters to and from Gould, and letters about Gould. Many of the letters concern his writings, but others are exchanges between friends. Correspondence Laid in Books consists of letters that were laid in books given to the Library by Gould, which were subsequently removed from the books and put in folders. This subseries is arranged in call number order of the book from which the item was removed. There is an alphabetical cross reference by correspondent.

M075.1.1 Chronological Correspondence, 1956, 1967-1999, n.d.

Box

Folder

1

1

1956, 1967, miscellaneous envelopes

1

2

1970-1999, n.d.

1

3

1978-1996, typescript letters from Gould to the Griffiths

M075.1.2 Correspondence Laid in Books

Box

Folder

2

1

Alphabetical list of correspondents

2

2-81

CZ: G697 B21.5 - CZ: G697.4 H84

M075.2 Writings and Related Materials, 1944-2002, n.d.

Series Description:

Contains typescripts and original manuscripts from a number of Gould's works, as well as dust jackets, cover proofs, clippings from Gould's newspaper column "Bygone Brunswick," and other clippings. Also contains negatives of pictures in New England Town Meeting: Safeguard of Democracy, and an index card file with notes about published stories.